OLpEN—On the Geography of Ros Ailithir. 231 
MAC COSSE, PRAXLECTOR OF ROS AILITHIR, Crcrnir. 
Ts 
In the body of the firm world are known five* equal zones marked out ; 
Two frigid of bright aspect ; two temperate around a fiery. 
II. 
The fiery across the middle of the body of the world ; [there is] fire in its solid mass; 
Two frigid at the border north and south ; two temperate around the great heat. 
III. 
The north temperate zone under heaven, there is the abode of mankind ; 
It is that which God divided for ever, in thirds> from the Torrian Sea. 
IV. 
[There are] three parts of the world west andeast; three parts{in which are Adam’s seed ; 
Three parts which God divided, Europe, Africa, and Asia. 
v. 
Asia [is] very good on every side, from the Queen it was named ; 
Asia was her name in the east, the woman who ruled over the eastern world. 
KAR 
Asia [is] not insignificant ; in the east it is, across the eastern part of the temperate 
Almost half‘ [the zone] took she by force, from Europe and from Africa. [zone]. 
VII. 
On north, east, and south, the sea is round its great surface, 
Which the river Tanais (Don) bounds on the west, the Sea of Mceotis® and the Torrian 
Sea. 
> Thirds.—Pomponius Mela, regarding the Euxine as a bay of the Mediterranean, 
says: Hoc mari et duobus inclytis amnibus Tanai atque Nilo in tres partes universa 
dividitur, lib. i. cap. 1. 
© Queen.—Asia, daughter of Oceanus. 
4 Half.—Strabo says Europe and Africa together are not equal in size to Asia, 
xVili. 3. 1. 
e In the time of Herodotus the Palus Meotis (Sea of Azov) was considered not 
much smaller than the Euxine, and it was believed to occupy a position to the east 
of that sea. This explains its relative position to Armenia in xxy11. Part of the 
Euxine is termed the Pontic Sea (uut.), and the whole sea seems to be called the 
